Beyond the Hammer: How Strauss & Co Guides Collectors and Estates

1 Jul 2026

Art collections are increasingly significant assets within private estates, as well as important assets for corporates. Strauss & Co, Africa’s leading auction house, has for many years offered art advisory support for estate planners and leading South African companies.

This support ranges from guiding clients in strategically building and managing an art collection, providing support in key acquisitions at auction, offering professional valuations for estate and insurance purposes, and advising on stewardship involving future generations. 

Drawing on decades of experience managing blue-chip private collections and estates, Strauss & Co has an established track record of providing discrete advice to emerging and established collectors.

Drawing on a well of specialist knowledge, both in-house and within its partner network, Strauss & Co also offers bespoke white-label services. These extend from the assessment of existing collections to the identification of strategic collecting goals, including the diversification of holdings across artists, eras and geographies.

In addition to these services, the company has a network of experts skilled in environmental and conservation issues, insurance guidance and emergency planning involving loss and damage.

Strauss & Co continues to demonstrate its specialist expertise in the stewardship and sale of important single-owner collections. In first quarter of 2026 the company achieved excellent results at auction for private individuals and families looking to tactfully dispose large collections.

In February, Portway to Cohen: A Collector’s Legacy and Other Properties, a sale of 73 lots from an esteemed private collector, offering a focused survey of modern and contemporary South African art. Realised R4.2 million / $261 115, with 81% of the lots offered sold. 

In March, Generations of Collecting: An Important Collection of Cape Silver, Oriental Ceramics, Furniture and Art, a two-part sale composed of diverse collectables acquired by three generations of a single family, attracted bidders from 29 countries and ultimately earned R12.6 million / $740 000 from 242 lots sold, with a 89% lot sell-through rate.

Strauss & Co’s traditional autumn programme in Johannesburg was bookended by two single-owner sales reflecting the distinct collecting interests of Durban arts patron Dr Vera Dubin and legendary auctioneer Founder and Managing Director of Strauss & Co, Stephan Welz, and his wife, Carmen Welz. The two-part sale Deep Roots: Selected Works from Stephan and Carmen Welz featured modern and contemporary art, Cape furniture, ceramics and a library of books selling at an 87,5% sell-through rate and a total of R2.7 million. Meanwhile, 100 Years: Lalique, Silver and Art from the Collection of Vera Dubin comprised Lalique glass, finely worked silver and art earned R1.4 million from 84 lots, with and 80% sell-through rate.

Heading into the second half of 2026, there is a definite sustained mood of optimism among collectors that drove strong results for modern and contemporary art at Strauss & Co’s flagship Johannesburg auction on 26 May 2026, with record prices achieved for important paintings by Penny Siopis and Gerard Sekoto. The combined Day and Evening art sales earned R49 524 342.